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Rabi Saley, 35 years old, fled Mali in the aftermath of attacks on her village. She sought refuge in Ouallam (Niger), where she worked as a market gardener alongside other refugee, displaced, or local women. © UNHCR/Colin Delfosse
The Covid-19 pandemic, conflict, and climate change are all threatening the rights and safety for refugees, internally displaced, and stateless women, and girls. Many of these girls were already suffering from discrimination and deep-rooted inequalities.
We continue to see an increase in reports of gender-based violence two years after the pandemic. These include domestic violence, forced marriages and child labour.
In situations where families are suffering from conflict, disaster, insecurity, or spiraling poverty, girls may be taken out school to work, begging, wed, or sold.
As a result of the pandemic, socio-economic conditions are worsening and mean that displaced girls and women are among the hardest hit. Millions are dependent on precarious employment in the informal economy – earning less and yet spending more to sustain their families. They are at greater risk for poverty and exploitation.
Gender inequality is both a root cause of forced displacement and a consequence. Our daily interactions show that girls and women living in humanitarian crises or armed conflicts are at greater risk.
We fear that existing gender inequalities may only get worse due to the effects of climate change. These include inequalities in access to natural resources, legal right, livelihood opportunities and formalized safety nets, technologies, information and more.
As we mark International Women’s Day, we urge governments, civil society and each of us and our communities to address gender inequality in all its forms and to support and promote the leadership, inclusion, and full participation of displaced women and girls.
UNHCR, for its part, is committed to supporting local, women-led frontline responses and to strengthening our collaboration with women’s-led organizations, especially those led or refugees, stateless, and internally displaced women and children.
If we don’t make concerted efforts to work with forcibly-displaced women, girls, displaced communities, and all stakeholders to transform social norms and systems that perpetuate gender inequality, discrimination, and create new opportunities for women and girls to be refugees and forcibly displaced, we will risk losing them.
Notes for editors:
UNHCR has today awarded seven scholarships to women-led responses in order to further support them. 2022 NGO Innovation Awardsto women-led or girl-led organisations in Malaysia. Peru, Nigeria. DRC, France. Iraq. This year’s awardees are all working to advance gender equality and leadership for displaced and conflict affected women and girls.
These awards recognize the achievements of NGOs that have creatively and effectively provided essential protection and services for refugees, forcibly displaced, and stateless communities. More information about the award is available, as well as the award winners. Here.
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